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André Cassagnes

Inventor of the Etch A Sketch which became one of the most popular toys of the past century

February 4 2013, 12:01am, The Times

Most famous for creating the distinctive children’s toy “Etch A Sketch”, André Cassagnes was an electrical technician and inventor who also became known for his kite-making skills.

Born in France in 1926, André Cassagnes grew up in the Parisian suburb of Vitry-sur-Seine. He joined his parent’s bakery business at the age of 18 but, owing to a flour allergy, found alternative employment as an electrical technician’s assistant at a small factory.

Working in such an environment Cassagnes found his inspiration for his most celebrated invention: the Etch A Sketch. Formerly called the “Télécran”, the toy makes use of the electrostatic attraction of aluminium powder to glass to produce a screen coated in the powder. A hard point behind the glass scrapes away the powder to…